Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1925’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Saxifraga  plant named ‘SH 1925’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and purplish pink and purplish red-colored flowers that are held above the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Saxifraga cortusifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SH 1925’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Jul. 28, 2020, application number 2020/1789. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

An United Kingdom Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Jun. 24, 2021, application number 30/846. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Saxifraga plant, botanically known as Saxifraga cortusifolia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SH 1925’.

The new Saxifraga plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Saxifraga plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration.

The new Saxifraga plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 2013-112, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and a proprietary selection of Saxifraga cortusifolia identified as code number 2013-468, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Saxifraga plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in October, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Saxifraga plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since May, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Saxifraga plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Saxifraga have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SH 1925’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SH 1925’ as a new and distinct Saxifraga plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Purplish pink and purplish red-colored flowers that are held         above the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish pink and         purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of the female         parent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Saxifraga differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are dark green in color         whereas leaves of plants of the male parent selection are         reddish in color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish pink and         purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of the male         parent selection are red and white in color.

Plants of the new Saxifraga can be compared to plants of Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1933’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,850. Plants of the new Saxifraga differ primarily from plants of ‘SH 1933’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Saxifraga are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘SH 1933’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Saxifraga are purplish pink and         purplish red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘SH 1933’ are         red purple in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Saxifraga plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Saxifraga plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1925’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SH 1925’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Saxifraga production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Saxifraga cortusifolia ‘SH 1925’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga             cortusifolia disclosed as code number 2013-112, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Saxifraga             cortusifolia disclosed as code number 2013-468, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 35 to 42             days at temperatures about 22° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 38 to 45             days at temperatures about 20° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse to medium             density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with flowers             held above the foliar plane; overall plant shape, flattened             globular; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 13.9             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.9             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 28.5 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; alternate             and single.         -   Length.—About 5 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform in outline; palmately lobed.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate to shallowly hastate, lobes free.         -   Margin.—Shallowly dentate and palmately lobed with about             seven or occasionally nine lobes per leaf; sinuses shallow             in depth and divergent.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte             to slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent;             moderately glossy to glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend             of 139A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             187C. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than a             blend of 139A and N189A; lobe margins, tinged with close to             200B to 200C; venation, darker than a blend of 139A and             N189A tinged with close to 200B. Fully developed leaves,             lower surface: Close to 187B; venation, close to 182B to             182C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Strength: Weak. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 187B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two at the base of each             petiole. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:             Reniform with fimbrate apices and margins. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 187C; fimbrate apices and margins,             close to 187D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Rotate flowers arranged in terminal             compound corymbs; freely flowering habit with about 45             flowers per inflorescence and about 600 flowers developing             per plant; flowers face mostly upright to slightly             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six             months after planting; plants flower naturally during the             autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two weeks; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color: Immature petals, close to 61B, and             immature sepals, close to 183A.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 20.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm by 1.9 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, occasionally             six, arranged in a single whorl; upper three or four petals             are smaller than lower one or two petals. Length, upper             petals: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Width, upper petals: About 3 mm             to 6 mm. Length, lower petals: About 1.2 cm to 1.7 cm.             Width, lower petals: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Shape, upper             petals: Elliptic to ovate. Shape, lower petals: Narrowly             elliptic to oblanceolate. Apex, upper and lower petals:             Acute. Base, upper and lower petals: Attenuate. Margin,             upper and lower petals: Mostly entire to slightly serrate;             not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower petals,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety; matte. Color, upper and lower petals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 59D; venation, close to 59D. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 63C; venation, close to             61C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 65A; towards the             apex and margins, close to 64C; venation, similar to lamina             colors; with subsequent development, color becoming closer             to 64B to 64C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 70D;             towards the apex and margins, close to 61C; venation, close             to 61C; with subsequent development, color becoming closer             to 64C to 64D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 147C;             towards the apex and margins, close to 183A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 183A. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 147C; towards the apex and margins, close to N186C.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N186C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 20° from vertical; secondary peduncles, about             50° from main peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately weak.             Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to a blend of 183A and 187C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Aspect: About 20° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 152A to 152B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             ten. Filament length: About 3.5 mm. Filament color: Close to             186D. Anther shape: Double reniform. Anther size: About 0.5             mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 187B. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 26B. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: About two. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma             diameter: About 0.2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to 157A. Style length: About 1.8 mm. Style             color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to 150A to 150B.             Floral bracts: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 7 mm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong to lanceolate.             Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Mostly             entire, occasionally slightly dentate. Color, upper surface:             Close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to a blend of             N186C and 200A. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Saxifraga. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Saxifraga have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −7° C. to about     36° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8b through 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Saxifraga     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Saxifraga plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Saxifraga plant named ‘SH 1925’ as illustrated and described. 